This Washington Post article does a good job of analyzing the strategy of impeaching the credibility of an adverse witness with the witness’ prior bad acts, which is not always as effective a trial strategy as it would seem on the surface. The strategy is coming into full focus this week as Bernard Ebbers’ attorneys prepare to cross-examine chief prosecution witness Scott Sullivan, and Richard Scrushy’s counsel takes on former Scrushy confidant, William T. Owens.